With a powerful upward swing, he thrust the blade underneath the bone of the thing’s sternum. Drove it at an angle, as deeply as possible. The beast’s screech was cut off abruptly, and it went down.
Zan staggered and fell. How long he was sprawled and bleeding in the dirt, he didn’t know. He only knew he had to get up. To use his gift on everyone he could save. His conscience wouldn’t let him do any less.
He found Aric first. Called forth his healing gift and sent it into his friend. Repaired torn arteries and shredded skin. “Come on, man. Don’t die. Stay with me.” Painstaking, exhausting work, and when he was done, he wanted to sleep. But there were so many left to go.
He got moving, crawling to Ryon. The man was crumpled on the ground, staring into the sky. His chest was moving, but Zan could see the light fading from his eyes.
“Ryon, hang on,” Zan ordered, touching his shoulder. “I’m a Healer, and you’re going to be okay.”
Disbelief was reflected in that solemn gaze, normally so full of humor and life. No one ever believed at first. And then the few who finally did, like Zan’s dad, called him a freak and an abomination. Told him that he was a minion of Satan.
If the bastard were here, he’d know what Satan really looked like.
Sending his warmth into Ryon, he spent long moments healing him as well. And then the next fallen brother and the next. When at last he’d helped everyone he could, his body simply quit.
Burned out, he slumped to the ground, convinced he’d never awaken.
And after what he’d seen today, that was fine by him.
“I’m so sorry,” Selene said, her heart breaking for Zan. For all of them.
How had they managed to get past such horror? It must have been the worst thing imaginable. Lives ripped apart, families left in limbo.
“Did you ever go home?”
He nodded. “I did, but by the time I recovered and got home to Atlanta, I found out my grandmother had died four months earlier. I had no family left, so I sold her house and was trying to decide what to do with my life when General Jarrod Grant and a shifter named Terry Noble showed up at my motel room door. Grant is a contact high in the military who gives Nick our assignments.”
“Like, what paranormal beings are wreaking havoc somewhere?”
“Exactly. Who, where, and how dangerous they are. We go out and dispatch the problem. If we feel there’s a creature or being who’s just confused or scared, we bring it in to try to rehabilitate it to our world. Like Sariel and Chup-Chup, two of our success stories.”
“Chup-Chup?”
“Chup is a little gremlin-type creature that we found in a cave on a mission. Nobody knows where he came from. He used to stay in a cell in Block R, chewing on his chain constantly and crying to get out. But he was so mean, nobody could handle him, and we couldn’t let him go.”
“That’s so sad! Where is he now?”
“Jax’s mate, Kira, came to live with us, and she has a way with those being rehabbed. She worked with Chup and got him to trust her, and the little guy fell in love with her. He’s great now and has the run of the place. When you meet him, just don’t stick your hand in his face without letting him sniff you first or you might lose a finger.”
“Uh, no worries there.” Don’t provide a real-life finger snack for the gremlin—check. “What about Sariel? You said he’s Kalen’s brother, right?”
“Half-brother, but yeah. He’s also a Seelie prince,” Zan said.
“Seelie, as in Fae?” Her eyes rounded. “I’ve never met one in real life!”
“Well, you will. His nickname is Blue because his hair and wings are this cool jewel tone of blue. He’s really literal, doesn’t get a lot of human slang and terms. We have a lot of fun with him, and he’s really a great guy. You’ll like him and Kalen.”
“I’ll reserve judgment on the Sorcerer for now,” she said dryly. “He popped into my holding cell to basically inform me I was being watched and if I stepped one toe out of line he’d turn me into a slug. I believe salt was mentioned as well.”
Zan actually growled, which she thought was funny. “He won’t try any such thing, or he’ll answer to me.”
Reaching across the table, she patted his hand. “He was sort of kidding. I think. Anyway, I’m not going to push my luck around him.”
Her touch, and the assurance, seemed to settle him. At the contact, the golden bond between them sang. It was almost a living thing, humming with electricity, firing along her nerve endings to the most primal part of her. The she-wolf inside of her stirred, rumbling in need. They both wanted him again, to feel him as they did before. His cock buried deep inside as they took what was theirs. She could hardly wait to get out of here.
They finished their beers and waved good-bye to Jacee, who smiled as they left. She thought about the coyote having a fling with Zan’s best friend and wondered how she’d feel if she ran into someone who’d slept with her mate.
Her wolf snarled, letting her know she’d tear out the bitch’s throat.
Guess that answered that question.
Back in his truck, she slid into the passenger’s side. He didn’t start the engine, though, and so she looked at him, waiting. Slowly, he turned to face her. Reached over and traced a finger down her cheek.
“You’re very beautiful,” he said, the words husky.
Her heart did a strange happy dance in her chest. “As nice as that is to hear, I’m surprised that you’d pay me any sort of compliment.”
“Why? Because of your attacking Nick?”
“That’s a big enough reason, don’t you think?”
“Yes. But there are extenuating circumstances. We both know that, and I’m willing to bet your perspective will change.”
“You have a lot of faith.”
“Healer. It’s an occupational hazard.”
With that, he scooted close. Cupped a hand behind her head and pulled her in for a kiss. He smelled so good, warm and spicy, and she inhaled his scent, hungry for more of him.
“Care to take this somewhere else?”
She sucked in a breath. Her body was on a steady burn to taste him, to savor his skin. “Yes.”
Desire darkened his brown eyes, and he started the truck. Even though they’d been together last night, she couldn’t wait to have him again. In seconds, they were on the road, and she felt a thrill of excitement. She was going to be with her mate, and while they were still getting to know each other, their encounters weren’t just fucking among strangers who’d go their separate ways. That pleased her to no end. He was hers.
As she enjoyed the drive, something occurred to her. “Your voice! It’s not flat anymore. You can hear, can’t you?”
Glancing at her, he nodded and graced her with a big smile. “I can. I wasn’t going to say anything yet because I was afraid it might not be permanent, but if you noticed, maybe it’s real. I was thinking it might have something to do with you being a born shifter. I think the bond had a good physical effect on me.”
“I hope so. I’d like nothing better than if our bond healed you.”
“You mean that.” It wasn’t a question.
“I do.”
He drove until they came to a side road leading into the forest, a county road not well traveled from the looks of it. The truck bumped along for a few minutes, and he finally turned off onto a narrow lane that was little more than a dirt path. At the end, the lane became a pretty meadow with a terrific view of the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies and the Shoshone below.
“Gorgeous,” she breathed.
“There are lots of parking spots around—not that I’ve brought women to them often. I mean rarely ever.” His cheeks colored.
“Maybe you’d better stop that line of bull while you’re ahead. The part about there not being many, that is.”